Maddon's Thanksmas event provides even more

Manager Joe Maddon prepared and served Thanksmas meals for hundreds of men, women and children at four Tampa Bay area sites last week.

Monday, the Rays announced an impressive addendum: More than $16,000 in donations to the centers.

As a result of donations received online (joesthanksmas.com) and during the Dec. 9 fundraiser at the 717 South restaurant in Tampa Maddon will donate in excess of $4,000 to each of the four sites: Salvation Army centers in St. Petersburg, Tampa and Bradenton, and the Sallie House in St. Petersburg.

“The goal is to expand Thanskmas in some fashion every year and thanks to the generosity of so many people we were able to do more for those less fortunate this year,” Maddon said, via the team press release. “I am very grateful to everyone who was involved this year whether it was by volunteering or donating. That’s really the point of all of this, to create awareness and unite our community.”

About the blog

The Tampa Bay Rays will head into the 2015 season with Evan Longoria, Chris Archer, Alex Cobb and plenty of new faces, including manager Kevin Cash. Can they upend the Orioles in the highly competitive AL East? Come here to follow Rays news at Tropicana Field and beyond.